The July C-Tran Board of Directors meeting had several citizens asking the members of the board to NOT agree to TriMet’s demand that we pay over $7 million per year in light rail operations and maintenance funds.
Members of the Board – Tonight you were supposed to be voting on the Resolution introduced by Michelle Belkot last January. I thought that was tabled until this meeting. I urge each of you to vote to support her resolution!
How much do you know about TriMet’s finances? It’s been 8 months since you agreed to “talk” with TriMet. Who of you have talked to TriMet? What have you learned? So far, you have refused to share with the citizens, anything related to your ability to “talk” with TriMet.
TriMet is currently threatening to CUT 10% of their light rail service, in addition to 27% of their bus service. This is because the Oregon legislature did not pass the largest transportation tax increase in Oregon’s history. TriMet initially demanded a 5-fold increase in a statewide jobs “head tax”. The final bill had a 3-fold increase.
Why on earth would you ever enter a business relationship with an ailing business partner?
Let’s look back at the June meeting. Greg Johnson told you the money for light rail O&M was there; and that if you didn’t agree to TriMet’s demands for $7 million a year in O&M funds, he would get it elsewhere. Why on earth don’t you say “thank you for letting us off the hook”? Why wouldn’t you return to your previous position of refusing to pay for any light rail O&M costs?
Greg Johnson also told you last month that his team did NOT use the FTA-required STOP program rules, to evaluate future transit ridership. He told you that his previous, RIDICULOUS transit ridership projections would be lower once they ran the FTA-required STOP rules. NOBODY with common sense believed the 26,000 to 33,000 daily boardings he projected for 2045.
You have cut your cross river Express bus service from 7 separate bus lines in 2019, to just 3 bus lines today. You know that you have only about 500 boardings a day on any of your express buses to Portland. You know your C-Tran buses are cheaper and offer better service than TriMet light rail for Clark County residents.
There was a 1.8% decrease in weekday MAX ridership in May. MAX operating costs per boarding ride INCREASED in May by 10.8% to $9.78 per rider.
As I shared last month, TriMet is trying to rip off taxpayers, when it comes to demanding 19 new light rail vehicles for the IBR. They cannot deliver 9 departures an hour – it’s physically impossible unless they cut service elsewhere. Furthermore, they are demanding TRIPLE the actual cost of those vehicles. They paid $4.5 million last year.
Just say No to light rail in Clark County!
